Benzalmalononitrile as a pestcontrol agent



(catalyst) Patented Apr. 25, 1944 UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE iBENZALMALONONITRILE AS A PEST- CONTBOL AGENT William Moore, Stamford.bonm, assignor to American Cyanamid Company, New York, N. Y., acorporation of Maine No Drawing. Application May 2 1941 Serial No.391,486

1 Claim. (Cl. lei-so) The present invention relates to a pest-controlagent and more particularly to a compound which is especially eifectiveas a contact poison for the control of insects and allied pests,

I have discovered that benzalmalononitrile 5 possesses stronginsecticidal activity against softbodied and sucking insects which areparticularly dimcult to exterminate, for example the citrus red spider,Tetranychus citri, and the bean aphid, Aphis rumicis. I

The following example illustrates a specific method of preparing theabove compound in accordance with the invention. Materials employed arein parts by weight.

Example To.a mixture consisting of 66 parts of malononitrile and 110parts of benzaldehyde cooled to 0., there was added 1 part ofdi-n-propylamine to crystallize. The reaction was complete in two hours.After recrystallization from ethyl alcohol, the benzalmalononitrile wasobtained in the After standing one hour atca temperature ofapproximately 5 C., the mass started porated in organic liquids such asthe aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons for sprayin purposes, or it maybe eflectively used in dusts with such inert diluents as kieselguhr,wood flour, walnut shell, talc, and the like.

While the invention has been described with particular reference tospecific embodiments, it is to be understood that.,it is not to belimited thereto but is to be construed broadly and restricted solely bythe scope of the appended form of long colorless needles which melted at2 Spray solutions were prepared. by dissolving the benzalmalononitrllein a solvent medium conclaim.

I claim: A method of combattipg insects which comprises contacting themwith a composition containing as an active ingredient benzalmalono-'sistlng of 65% acetone and water. A 97.8% I

nitrlle.

WILLIAM MOORE.

